Brown-capped Babbler
Pellorneum fuscocapillus
Small brown babbler, with intense cinnamon underparts and a clear cut blackish brown cap. A terrestrial species occurring on or near the ground in forests, forest edge and nearby scrub and thickets in wooded areas, where typically encountered as pairs. Bold cap and underpart coloration make this distinctive in limited range on Sri Lanka. Repetitive song is a three note whistle “wit-wi-yoo”, ascending at the start and descending at the end. Other more complex warbles are given including an excited series of untidy, downslurred whistles.
Identification
The brown-capped babbler is a smallish to medium-sized babbler, at 16 cm (6.3 in) including its long tail. It is brown above and rich cinnamon below. It has a dark brown crown.<p>Brown-capped babblers have short dark bills. Their food is mainly insects. They can be difficult to observe in the dense vegetation they prefer, but like other babblers, these are noisy birds, and their characteristic calls are often the best indication that these birds are present.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Pellorneum fuscocapillus
- Authority
- (Blyth, 1849)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Pellorneidae
- Genus
- Pellorneum
Range and habitat
The brown-capped babbler is an endemic resident breeding bird in Sri Lanka. Its habitat is forest undergrowth and thick scrub. This species, like most babblers, is not migratory, and has short rounded wings and a weak flight.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Brown-capped babblers are usually believed to occur in pairs. Male birds make a distinctive call ("pretty dear") to attract other birds. Breeding season occurs during the first half of the year, during which time males exhibit territorial behavior. This babbler builds its nest on the ground or in a hole, concealed in dense masses of foliage. The normal clutch is two or three eggs.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Lark-like Brushrunner
Coryphistera alaudina
Distinctive ovenbird with a bold face pattern and a spiky crest. Heavily streaked with a broken white eye-ring. Forages on the ground in light woodland and scrub with scattered trees. Often encountered in family groups, and in the non-breeding season may associate with mixed-species flocks. The song is a trembling trill.
Purple-throated Euphonia
Euphonia chlorotica
Tiny bird with a strong bill and short tail. Males are glossy blue-black on the head, back, and throat with a bright yellow forehead and belly, and a white undertail. Females are olive-green above with either a yellowish or white belly flanked by yellow depending on region. Found commonly in a variety of habitats from humid forests to mangroves and from agricultural areas to gardens. Often accompanies mixed-species flocks. The most frequently heard vocalization is the “teee-deee” call.
Hooded Pitohui
Pitohui dichrous
A medium-sized bird of foothill and lower montane forest and edge. Tawny colored body with black head, chest, wing and tail. Remeniscent of Orchard Oriole. Almost identical to some races of Southern and Northern Variable Pitohui but Hooded is usually found at higher altitude. Hooded is best told by voice which is usually lower. Voice, a complex array of low, oriolelike warbles, wolf-whistles and clicks. Some vocalizations sound like “pi-to-hui”.
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